To the rest of the Cardiff fans, considering this, how awesome would a Cardiff City play off final be! (Obviously less good than an auto. spot due to the whole 'possibility of losing thing', but it'd be a hell of an event).

TheSaint wrote:
Any Leeds fans got any idea who leaked the team news to Palace?

No, but, apparently he is 'never going to play for leeds united again'.

Personally, I think, after saturdays result, they should give him a pay rise and let him do it every week.

Anyway, we (Derby) were mugged on saturday by Hull, but we have scored so many late ones this season, you cant be too upset.

It was quite a good game. Hull brought it to us and, to be honest, it looked like we did need a bit of a bloody nose after so many back to back wins. We didnt look as hungry as we did, but I think this wont be a bad result in the end.

Phil Brown looks to have Hull organised and playing decent football. I know its old boy syndrome, but I think they may well have what it takes to stay up.

After last week I cannot feel too sorry for you guess you can't keep getting lucky and scoring the late goals.

Saints battered West Brom and were only denied by two dodgy referee decisions. I was listening to the West Brom official commentary on-line and even they couldn't have believe that their keeper was still on the pitch after handling outside the area.

I sympathise with Paul Jewel but he should see the standard of referee decisions in the championship each week.

What I find staggering, is that if a ref is deemed to have given a poor performance in the Prem, he is "demoted" to the Champ etc. Why should anyone have to put up with incompetence?! My Swindon fan mate says that every time he's seen a "prem" ref they have been dreadful.

nickthegun wrote:
Anyway, we (Derby) were mugged on saturday by Hull, but we have scored so many late ones this season, you cant be too upset.

You think? I thought they really deserved a point from us. It's about time we learned the lesson that we can't just sit back on a one goal lead (in a way, it would have been better if Moore hadn't scored when he did - you know we'd have come out far more positively if we were still drawing!)

Their first goal was a bit of a fluke/goal keeping error, but, yeah they were value for the point and had the better possession for the first half hour and parts of the second half. Its just that, 88 minutes, you know?

nickthegun wrote:
Mugged in the way they scored in the last two minutes.

Their first goal was a bit of a fluke/goal keeping error, but, yeah they were value for the point and had the better possession for the first half hour and parts of the second half. Its just that, 88 minutes, you know?

I would like to express my amazement at Stoke City actually winning games at the end of the season and pushing for the playoffs. Quality signings like Higginbotham, Fuller, Hendrie(loan) and Dominic matteo have given us a boost throughout the season and after a terrible spell we have won 3 on the bounce.

Currently lying in 7th position 1 point away from wolves in 6th and 3 points away from WBA in 4th whom we beat 3-1 away at the weekend.

The play-offs can be a crushing experience. Last time the Blades were in them, we finished third, far and away better than 4th, 5th and 6th, came so close to automatic, been to two cup semi finals that year, then got absolutely battered 3-0 by Wolves in the final. It was gutting.

Yeah they can be a bad experience for those teams that have just missed out on the top two. Im just glad we have a chance of making it this year, it has kept the season interesting all through the year and if we do make it anything else after that is a bonus.

If I could choose a way to go up, then it would be via the playoffs, because for the teams competing, its bigger than the FA CUP.

The playoff finals are just amazing and the finals weekend is one of my favourite in the sporting year.

But, as you say, the playoff finals are, often, a hideous bitch goddess. I hadnt ever seen a grown man cry until Gillingham were robbed by Man City in the 99 Div 2 playoffs.

The thing is, the team in 6th usually get there through a last minute burst of form, but 3rd place have often had a bit of a wobble. Like if Birmingham carry on like they have been doing and finish third, it will be a bit of a confidence blow for them.